The first step in any home restoration or preservation project is to
understand the period and architectural style in which it was built. Several books in the "Pelham By Design" collection that can help are:

American Architecture Since 1780 -- A Guide to the Styles, by Marcus Whiffen;

A Field Guide to American Houses, by Virginia & Lee McAlester;

What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture, by John C. Poppeliers.